Japan's entry to the Trans Pacific Partnership will slow the trade negotiations down - but offers New Zealand a much larger reward according to Trade Negtiations Minister Tim Groser.
Mr Groser said Japan entering the talks would increase their complexity but he said it could also give New Zealand a much bigger bang for its buck.
Mr Groser said while he appreciated Japan had sensitivities when it came to agricultural imports - particularly rice - but said no exceptions would be made.
Japan's has a 777% tariff on rice while it employs a 360% tariff on butter.
According to a recent article in The Economist, Japan has 1.5 million farmers - only about 400,000 of whom farm fulltime.
The article said the average size of a non-livestock farm in Japan was 1.5 hectares and that its entry to the TPP may be fiercely opposed by its powerful farmer group, Japan Agriculture.
